When you get an unpleasant phone call, there are many reasons you can end it. While lying is despicable, sometimes you need to do it to end a call at the wrong time. The easiest way to do this is to present situational-themed reasons related to the call to end or postpone it. However, remember that you have to keep your word and call back when you promise.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Making Situational Reasons
Step 1. Pretend someone is knocking on the door and you have to go outside to open it
Tell the caller that you hear a knock or the sound of the doorbell, then end the call with the pretext of wanting to check. Say that you will call back after the guest leaves.
To be more realistic, knock on something wooden to make it sound like a knock on the door, or open the front door slowly and ring the bell
Tip: You can also say that someone has made an appointment and they have arrived home. So you have to greet it and not be able to receive the call at that time.
Step 2. Say you are doing something and will call back
Compose a realistic household task. Let the caller know that you can't chat and will talk at a later time.
For example, you could say that you are cleaning, shopping, cooking, dressing, or whatever is on your mind at the time
Step 3. Say that you are about to eat and cannot answer the call
Tell the caller that you have just sat down for a meal. So you can't chat. Ask him to call you later or promise to call him after eating.
- If the caller is stubborn, say something like "My food's getting cold, I'll call back after eating," or "I'm having dinner with a friend. I don't want to be rude, I have to hang up."
- Keep in mind that these reasons sound more believable if you present them at mealtime.
Step 4. Tell the caller that you are going to bed, then ask him to call you again another time
Say in a sleepy tone that you are going to lie down or take a nap. Have the caller redial at a later time when you are not sleepy.
- Try adding a fake yawn or acting half-conscious to make it more convincing.
- Make sure you can adapt these excuses in time. For example, this reasoning makes sense if calls are made at normal bedtime. If it's still noon, say you're going to take a nap.
Step 5. Say that you are in a meeting or are about to make a conference call so you have to hang up
Just look at the clock, then tell him that you have to go to a meeting or conference call in 15 minutes to make sure. Tell the caller that you need to get ready, then end the call.
- For example, if the clock is 4:22 p.m., let's say you have a conference call at 4:30 p.m. so you need to tidy up.
- This reasoning is much more credible if you use it during business hours.
Step 6. Pretend to remember important responsibilities, then end the call
Interrupt what the caller is saying, then say that you just remembered something important that needs to be done. Act like you're in a hurry, say you'll talk to him some other time, then hang up.
For example, you could say something like "I just remembered I have to pick up my nephew from his soccer practice in 15 minutes, I have to go, see you later!" or “Oh no, I just remembered having to pick up my coat at the laundry before they close at 5pm, I'll be going first, see you later!”
Step 7. Say that you need to go to the toilet and will chat later
Tell the caller that you can't stand the urge to go to the toilet. Ask him to call back or say that you will call back.
This is a good reason to end a call quickly. Most people will find it awkward to forward calls if you can't stand the urge to go to the toilet
Step 8. Tell that there is an emergency situation involving a family member to end the call immediately
Let them know that you have just received news that a family member has died or been rushed to the hospital and must immediately end the call. Use this excuse as a last resort. Most callers will not forward calls after hearing this excuse.
Be careful when using this excuse. Don't use it on someone close to you who could be emotionally affected
Method 2 of 2: Using Call Interruption as an Excuse
Step 1. Tell the caller that you must answer someone else's call
Pretend someone else is calling and you have to pick up. After that, let's say you're going to call back and end the call.
If you receive a call on your cell phone and there's a landline nearby, turn up the landline so that the person calling on the cell phone can hear it
Step 2. Let's say your phone is running out of power so it should be turned off
Act as if you just checked your phone's battery and it's running low. Say that you have to end the call to save battery because you can't charge it at that time.
If you really want to end the call, say that the phone's battery is running low, then end the call. Turn off the phone or set it to airplane mode to make it appear completely off
Step 3. Pretend you have lost signal and can't hear the caller
Say you are on the road and the signal is weak. Let the caller know that you can't hear him clearly and will call back when he gets a signal.
Act to make your reasons more convincing by pretending you didn't hear the caller, then hang up. Say something like: “Hello, hello? Can you hear me? My signal is bad. I can't hear….,” then hang up
Step 4. Say your phone behaved strangely suddenly and you will call back another time
Tell him your phone is making strange noises or the screen looks different. Reassure the caller that you should hang up to find out the problem.
For example, say something like: “I'm sorry, but the sound on my phone is so weird it's hard to hear you. I'd better hang up and call back another time. I have to find out first what the problem is?”
Tips: Whenever you promise to call back, keep it. If the caller is someone you don't know, such as a telemarketer, just hang up without hesitation.
Tips
- If you promise to call back, you must keep it so people know you can be trusted.
- When you get a call from a telemarketer, there's no need to make up an excuse to hang up. Just end the call.
- If you don't feel like talking, don't answer incoming phone calls.
- Keep in mind that unknown numbers often come from intruders. If the call is important, the caller can leave a voice message.
